FlyDubai Pilot Reportedly Stabbed as Israel-Bound Jet Plunges 17,000 Feet

A FlyDubai jet carrying about 180 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent struggle between its two pilots, in which one pilot was reportedly stabbed. The plane dropped roughly 17,000 feet in less than a minute before it was diverted, and Israeli officials are now investigating the incident as a possible act of terror.

All passengers and crew landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, according to the airline.

A Sudden Plunge Over Saudi Arabia

Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX, was about two hours and 15 minutes into its journey when it suddenly fell from 34,000 feet to about 17,000 feet, according to flight tracking data cited by The Times of Israel. The jet's speed jumped from 411 knots to nearly 600 during the descent.

The plane then climbed briefly before dropping below 14,000 feet again. Its altitude stayed unsteady for the next hour, suggesting it was being flown by hand rather than on autopilot.

During that time, the aircraft sent out code 7700, a general emergency signal, and briefly transmitted code 7500, which pilots use to report a hijacking. Israel scrambled fighter jets in response.

What Happened in the Cockpit

Israeli officials said the emergency followed a physical fight between the pilots. Passengers described hearing screams from the front of the plane and seeing blood in the cockpit.

According to passenger accounts reported by Israeli media, the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a knife. Several Israeli passengers helped the crew restrain the man.

"A few of us just jumped in and pulled him out of the cockpit," one passenger said, as reported by Ynet.

A statement from Tabuk Airport said both pilots were injured and taken to a hospital after landing. One Israeli passenger said the stabbed pilot was in critical condition and credited an Israeli dentist on board with saving his life.

The airline has not publicly identified either pilot. Israeli media, citing security officials, reported that the suspect is believed to be from Oman.

Israel Treats It as Possible Terror

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office initially said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking and that the situation was under control. Israeli security agencies have since shifted toward treating it as a suspected act of terror, according to the Jerusalem Post.

"Whoever tried to crash a plane and murder 180 Israelis must pay as if he murdered," an Israeli official told the outlet.

Officials said they do not yet know whether the attacker meant to hijack the plane, crash it or carry out a larger attack. There is currently no evidence that a foreign government or terror group was involved.

Officials have not said how a knife ended up in the cockpit. Knives are banned from carry-on bags on commercial flights, and screeners have caught blades tucked into items as unusual as a baseball bat.

Passengers Stuck in Tabuk

After landing, passengers stayed on board while Saudi security forces surrounded the aircraft. The situation is diplomatically complicated because Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal relations.

FlyDubai said it would send a replacement aircraft to carry passengers on to Tel Aviv. Israeli defense officials were also weighing whether to send their own plane.

"Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities," the airline said in a statement reported by Euronews. "Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available."

A Rare Kind of Danger

Most violent incidents on commercial flights involve passengers rather than crew members. Recent cases have included a violent outburst that ended with a traveler duct-taped to a seat and a passenger who said he felt like opening the exit door at 30,000 feet.

Threats from inside the cockpit are far less common. In 2023, an off-duty pilot riding in the jump seat of a Horizon Air flight tried to shut down the engines before the crew stopped him. In 2015, a Germanwings co-pilot deliberately crashed his plane into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.

FlyDubai, the low-cost sister airline of Emirates, began flying to Israel after the UAE and Israel normalized relations in 2020.

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